Oct 1 (Reuters) - U.N. envoy Ibrahim Gambari was waiting to see Myanmar's top general on Monday to try to persuade the military junta to ease its nationwide crackdown on the biggest anti-government protests in 20 years, diplomats said. Gambari was appointed special adviser to the secretary-general on Myanmar on May 22. Here are some key facts: - Born in Nigeria in 1944. Attended Kings College, Lagos, as well as London School of Economics, where he studied political science. Also has M.A. and Ph.D. in political science /international relations from Columbia University, New York. - From 1969-1983, Gambari held variety of university teaching posts - Nigerian foreign minister from 1984-85 - Before joining U.N. Secretariat in 1999, served as Permanent Representative of Nigeria to U.N. - Chaired U.N. Special Committee against Apartheid, which oversaw demise of apartheid and establishment of democratic rule in South Africa. - Named undersecretary-general for the U.N. Department of Political Affairs in 2005 by the former secretary-general, Kofi Annan. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in 2007 appointed him as a special adviser, where he was in charge of the International Compact with Iraq, Myanmar and other issues. (Source: United Nations)
